Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-12-21
M ~ fA II COMFY.


REyIy Il oFR AN oNF VI. hi
Ancient sport 81 En llshna.a Az
FRYING to opula rtxe.
Althon Il there does not app rently
sxist any great revival Of the sport oi
falconry there have been various Efforts
recently made Is nlarize IL il En-
Gland
III There was q time when q t was & x-
trenlely popular and up on the treasury
lists Of Great Britain there are several
5sineourists drawing heavy salaries in
conn ection with this now obsolete pas
time HI III
Faloonry is the pursuit Of birds and
also of small quadrnpe ~ trained
hawks The heron is the principal bird
the sport affects. These birds are only
occasionally met with IN the fens. IA
the winter the herons are shy and,
,olitary, and are found IN the fens by,
themselves; but inI the spring they con-
gregate in some high wood. The heron
resembles the rock or crow, and thor
nests and sha bits are similar. They are
curious and weird objects standing.
alone In the water. with their heads
bent back to their shoulders, seeking
the fish, reptiles and mice. which. when
discovered, they seize with the quick
ness Of lightning and the unerring aim
Of a Creedmoor expert. #s55 Hi!.@ Il. .tS5
Several efforts to revive the sport
have been unsuccessfully made at,
various times Of late, with poor sue
cess. In olden times kites, partridges,.
pheasants, larks, q pigeons. sparrows
and even rabbits have been flown at.
The Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, Of
India, kept his private falconeriin En-
gland recently, but was unsuccessful
in attracting general attention, for few
sportsmen of the present rapid age
have the patience to persevere to be-
come expert falconers. Some few peo-
pie who cling to the antiquity of their
residences, retain heronries as proofs.
But they are for the most part entirely
out Of the reach of nearly all. Of her
Majesty's sporting subjects. 7sa s.. !:
But years ago theirs were no men
more reyered and ennobled than ex-
pert falconers. ~: =. t.s$ nd N III
The gyrfaloon is most highly priced
for the sport; he is very long winged
and the largest species. In the olden
days Of falconry the gyrfalcon OF Ice
land was highly priced as the most
rapid Of flight and more courageous
than the British OF. Norway species.
The length Of this bird was about
stwenty-three inches. with horn and
yellow colored beak. There are various
species of falcons fiers. quick
dashers, and long and short distance
birds, according to the prey designed.
The kcsirel. the goshawk, and the
sparrow hawk, also tho kite, buzzard,
and barrier, are some of these. The
hood, which lis used to break the hawk
to hand and to produce temporary
blindness, IL made. of stiff leather,
blocked upon wooden model Of its
intended shape, SO as to sit stifly hut
firmly on the hawks head. A curious
combination Of leash is fastened around
the hawk and extends to the hand OF
the falconsr, who can instantly set the
bird free. The lure is used to entice the
hawk back to the faleoner. either after
an unsuccessful flight or when the game
is struck and is to be saved from the
talons of the .devourer. The lure is
composed Of a mass of feathers Of bril-
liant hue attached to q long oorded
string with tassel at the end. . :. /. Il
Hawking-glovss were used with hand.
somely ornamented gauntlets over tho
wrist, each falconer adopting some
poetical fancy of his own. Hawks are
either taken from their nests, trained
AZ, young birds. or trapped at a later
period. by the feather mode they are
more traotable. but less fearless and
less bold and strong. Hawk. inning il
easy, but the chief difficulty in falcon
ing is teaching them to ay at game.
Springs of horsehair or bird lime are
tho means usually sought to trap the
hawk, and active men and boys ia
neighboring trees are essential. II: *s:.: Ell
Hawks are wonderfully intelligent
when trained, and will take medicine
to condition them as well as the most
intelligent horse or dog, and will learn
to know their names and will come At
its call from out of a congregation.
Rewards Of meat will placatc the most
unruly hawk. who will then tamely
submit to hood, jesses, and bells. A
well-trained peregine (eyesses) costs
about seven dollars. Gil, s.5.s ,s..5 s.s:
Colonel Wilson, Of Didlington. in
Norfolk, has the most perfect heronry
probably existing to-day. A heronry
is best situated on 4 river with open
country on each side Of it. The herons
go out in the morning to rivers and
ponds at considerable distances in
search Of food, and return early in the
evening. 1t is at this time that the
falconers place themselves in the open
country down wind q Of tho heronry,
so that when tho herons areintercsptad